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WorksheetYear 3Level 2 · Standard

Free Year 3 Reversible and Irreversible Changes Worksheet

Students learn that some changes to materials can be reversed, like melting and freezing chocolate, while others make something new and cannot be undone, like baking a cake or burning wood — then sort everyday changes and explain their thinking.

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Year
Year 3
Subject
Science
Topic
States of Matter & Materials
Difficulty
Level 2 · Standard
Estimated time
30 minutes
Curriculum
Australian Curriculum
Questions
14
Answers
Included, with working
Format
PDF (A4), print or complete online

Students will practise

  • classifying changes as reversible or irreversible
  • explaining why a change can or cannot be undone
  • recognising signs that a new material has formed
  • using evidence to justify a claim

Curriculum: Australian Curriculum. We show specific outcome codes only where they have been verified against the official curriculum document.

What's next?

Completed: Reversible and Irreversible Changes

Ready for more? Move on to Year 4 Science.

← Easier: Level 1 · Easier

How to use this worksheet

  1. Print the PDF or complete it on screen. Write the student's name and date at the top.
  2. Read the instructions for each part together before starting. Encourage working to be shown.
  3. Mark with the answer sheet. Use the model answers and success criteria as a guide rather than a single right answer.
  4. Record the score, celebrate what went well, then follow the "What's next" suggestion.

Common questions

Who is this worksheet for?

Year 3 students (typically ages 8–9) working on states of matter & materials. It is pitched at level 2 · standard; an easier version is linked above.

Are the answers included?

Yes. The PDF includes a full answer sheet with model answers and success criteria where there is more than one good answer. You can also view the answers online.

How long does it take?

About 30 minutes for 14 questions. Short, regular sessions work best: two or three a week beats one long one.

Do I need to sign up to download?

No. Click Download Free PDF and it opens immediately. It is free for personal, classroom and homeschool use.

What should we do next?

Explore more Year 3 science resources.

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Success TutoringWorksheetsYear 3 · Science · States of Matter & Materials

Reversible and Irreversible Changes

Name

Date

Score /

Ask yourself: is it still the same material, or has something new been made?

Part A: Can it be undone?

Read the passage. Then circle the best answer.

Materials can change when we heat them, cool them, mix them or change their shape.

A reversible change can be undone. Melting, freezing, dissolving and changing shape are usually reversible. Ice can melt into water, and the water can be frozen into ice again.

An irreversible change cannot be undone. A new material is made. Cooking, baking and burning are irreversible. A baked cake can never turn back into flour, eggs and milk.

Signs of an irreversible change include a new colour, a new smell, bubbles of gas, smoke or ash.

1.Which change is reversible?
  1. Aburning paper
  2. Bmelting butter
  3. Cbaking bread
  4. Dfrying an egg
2.Which change is irreversible?
  1. Afreezing juice
  2. Bmelting ice
  3. Ctoasting bread
  4. Ddissolving salt in water
3.How could you get salt back after dissolving it in water?
  1. AFreeze it.
  2. BLet the water evaporate.
  3. CStir it more.
  4. DAdd more water.
4.Which is a sign that a new material has been made?
  1. AThe material changes shape.
  2. BThe material melts.
  3. CSmoke, ash or a new smell is made.
  4. DThe material gets colder.
5.Chocolate is melted, poured into a mould and cooled. What kind of change is this?
  1. Airreversible, because it is a new material
  2. Breversible, because it is still chocolate
  3. Cirreversible, because it was heated
  4. Dnot a change at all

Part B: Sort and explain

6.Sort each change: reversible or irreversible?
  • freezing water into ice
  • burning a log
  • squashing play dough
  • boiling an egg
  • irreversible
  • reversible
  • reversible
  • irreversible
7.A change that can be undone is called a (answer space) change.
8.When wood burns, new materials such as smoke and (answer space) are made.
9.Why is baking a cake an irreversible change? (answer space)

Part C: True or false?

Write True or False.

10.Melting is usually a reversible change. ☐ True   ☐ False
11.A burnt match can be turned back into a new match. ☐ True   ☐ False
12.Every change caused by heating is irreversible. ☐ True   ☐ False
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Preview — the PDF contains the full resource and answer sheet.

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About this resource

Created by
Success Tutoring Science Team
Last reviewed
1 October 2026
How it was made
Written by our team

Free to print and share for personal, classroom and homeschool use. Please don't resell. Spotted an error? Let us know.